KTM North America has announced Kailub Russell will step away from his coaching role with USA off-road riders – “KTM thanks” press release fuels speculation Russell will head-up a new manufacturer’s off-road racing programme.

After what righty ranks as one, if not the best rider/team partnerships in off-road sport, Kailub Russell is moving on from his role as rider trainer and coach to KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS factory teams in North America.

The announcement from KTM North America, issued as a “thanks to Kailub for all his hard work” is usually a precursor to the individual moving elsewhere or being put out to pasture.

It seems unlikely the 34-year-old will head for the riverbank with his fishing rod just yet and points to the likelihood he could be about to head-up the racing programme for one of the new manufacturers entering off-road and enduro in the coming season – notably either Triumph or Ducati.

Russell’s remarkable career on the orange bikes spread for more than a decade across his entire professional racing career before switching to training the KTM group’s off-road riders at his Ranch Russell facility in North Carolina and Florida.

As part of the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team through his legendary racing career, Russell amassed a record eight-consecutive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series Overall Championships between 2013 and 2020 when he retired at the very top.

Russell achieved 67 GNCC Overall victories, which also stands as a record, and he has two GNCC XC2 250 Pro Class Championships won in 2009 and 2010. He also claimed an AMA National Enduro Championship in 2015 and is a three-time Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series Champion from 2015, 2019 and 2020.

Russell has twice been a member of Team USA’s winning World Trophy Team at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), including the 2016 and 2019 editions. All of which makes him one of the most decorated offroad riders in the sport’s history.

Since electing to stop racing himself, Russell has been instrumental in the success of KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS team riders throughout the past four seasons between 2021-2024 in a training and coaching capacity. His knowledge and assistance has led to immense ongoing success, including his contribution with the group to achieve a total of five National and five Regional titles – most notably being the GNCC Overall Championships with Ben Kelley, Craig DeLong and this year Johnny Girroir.

Antti Kallonen, Director of Offroad Racing: “We want to thank Kailub for his dedication and effort the last four seasons helping our athletes to succeed and win championships for all three of our brands. We want to wish him the best for the future and truly appreciate the championships he won himself and the ones he helped our athletes to win. Thank you, Kailub.”